15th January 2008

【About Talking about Japan】
I think my speaking knowledge was decreasing　after I came back to Japan from New Zealand, but thanks to ‘’talking about Japan’’ my speaking knowledge is increasing again. I could notice what was wrong of my English speaking.

【About Writing class】I think writing class was very good studying for me. Because I could learn both English and computer. I　didn’t expect Tezukayama to teach me how to use computer. I’m not still good at computer, but I could be better than before I take this class.

【About English listening 】
We had chance to listen to real pronunciation　from native English speakers.

1st January 2008

I was gonna spend New Year’s Eve with Ryo. We were gonna count down to New Year. We were waiting for count down as watching TV. And eating buckwheat noodles. Japanese people eat buckwheat noodles on New Year’s Eve. There are some reasons. One reason is people wish for long life. Because noodles are long. After I felt full I fall a sleep. I expected Ryo to wake me up before countdown. But he didn’t.

a) Hogmanay is the name for New Year in which country?

Britain

b) In which city is the New Year's Day parade held?

Can you find a photo of this year's parade?London

c) Whose birthday is on January 3rd, and what famous book did he write?

JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings

d) Whose birthday is on January 5th?

Why is this person's birthday in a British calendar?Guru Gobind Singh This day marks the birth of the tenth and final Sikh prophet-teacher in 1666 C.E.

e) Whose birthday is today (January 8th)?

What is he famous for?Elvis Presley　singer

f) What is Al Hijra and why is it on a British calendar?

The Islamic New Year begins on the day Prophet Muhammad left Mecca to travel to Medina in 622 CE. He protected some British people.

g) Who reached the South Pole in 1912 on January 17th?

Robert Scott

h) Whose birthday is on January 18th?

What famous book did he write?AA Milne　　Winnie the Pooh

i) Who died on January ２4th, 1965?

What is he famous for (write ONE thing).Sir Winston Churchill　He was a prime minister of England.

j) What do you think about this calendar?

I don’t　know any person on this calendar. So I was not interested in this.

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December in England, with a Christmas dinner for the whole family.

During the weeks before Christmas Day, we send cards, watch nativity plays and go to carol services. We also decorate our homes and churches with green leaves, paper decorations and colourful electric lights. copyright of projectbritain


What is a Nativity Play?
The Nativity Play recreates the scene of Jesus’ birth in the stable and tells of how Mary and Joseph were visited by the Shepherds and Wise Men. The parts of Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men are played by the children. In our school, the Year 3 children perform a Nativity to the whole school and to proud parents.

Caroling

(singing carols in the street) is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain, going back to the Middle Ages when beggars, seeking food, money, or drink, would wander the streets singing holiday songs. copyright of projectbritain.com

In the Middle Ages, carols were dances accompanied by singing. It is thought that they were introduced to England from France.

Over the years, the word 'carol' changed its meaning, referring only to certain kinds of songs, the word carol became known as Christmas songs.

I learned British people stay at home with familiy. It is little different with Japanese costom.

I didn't know the abbreviation for Christmas to Xmas is derived from the Greek alphabet. X is the letter Chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet.

Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, or other parts of pictures are on the traditionally Christmas cards.I didn't know about that. because today, pictures are often winter pictures, Father Christmas, or jokes.

People send about 50 X'mas cards to friends or whoever in average in Englnad.

writing1 4th December

“The Golden compass” is a fantasy movie, starring Nicole Kidman, Eva Green and Daniel Craig. 2007 new movie releases also starring Sam Elliott and Dakota Blue Richards.
The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure movie where souls manifest themselves as animals.

“Beowulf”　is a movie,starring Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Alison Lohman, and Angelina Jolie.Coming to theaters on November 16th from Paramount Pictures. The story is about 12years old girl Lyra disappears with her own guardian angel.

I am interested in The Black Eyed Peas. I don’t buy so much CDs but I only buy their CDs. I am listening their songs all the time. For example ｗhen I get up from the bed every morning and when I go to sleep　and I am in the train.

13th November

a） Ayaka Hirahara
b） 23years old
C）Senzoku Gakuen College She is studying music.
d）The melody of the song is based around the melody to the "Jupiter" section of The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst
e）Her first single, "Jupiter", was released in Japan in December 2003, and went on to be one of the biggest selling singles of 2004.
f）The Planets Suite by Gustav Holstg）Gustav Holst was born in 1874 at 4 Clarence Road, Englandh）i）Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys.j）25 May 1934
a）1967
b）George Allen & Unwin
c）He was born in 13 September 1916　and he was died in 23 November 1990
e）Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
f）I have not seen anything.
ｇ）He married Academy Award-winning American actress Patricia Neal on 2 July 1953, at Trinity Church

ｈ）The　Fountainhead
i）Yes, I think so.
j）I have not seen that movie but I thought it looks very fun so I want see that movie sometime.
５）Remembrance Day
a）Sevenoaks Kent
b）Britain
c）end of World War One.
d）79years
e）Poppy
f）Answer The symbol is remembrance of parliament

13th November

a） Ayaka Hirahara
b） 23years old
C）Senzoku Gakuen College She is studying music.
d）The melody of the song is based around the melody to the "Jupiter" section of The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst
e）Her first single, "Jupiter", was released in Japan in December 2003, and went on to be one of the biggest selling singles of 2004.
f）The Planets Suite by Gustav Holstg）Gustav Holst was born in 1874 at 4 Clarence Road, Englandh）i）Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys.j）25 May 1934
a）1967
b）George Allen & Unwin
c）He was born in 13 September 1916　and he was died in 23 November 1990
e）Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
f）I have not seen anything.
ｇ）He married Academy Award-winning American actress Patricia Neal on 2 July 1953, at Trinity Church

ｈ）The　Fountainhead
i）Yes, I think so.
j）I have not seen that movie but I thought it looks very fun so I want see that movie sometime.
５）Remembrance Day
a）Sevenoaks Kent
b）Britain
c）end of World War One.
d）79years
e）Poppy
f）Answer The symbol is remembrance of parliament